<p>As stated in the title, my EFC is over $30,000. I have no idea where this number came from. My family cannot afford to pay this - they literally will not have enough money to eat after paying for rent and my tuition! </p>
<p>I'm disheartened because (luckily) I've been getting into the schools I've wanted to, but I won't be able to attend any of them because they're too expensive. </p>
<p>I have applied to several scholarships but unfortunately didn't get any of them. Its hard for me to get local scholarships because I live in NY so local really doesn't mean that its less competitive.</p>
<p>I would appreciate any advice as to how we could go about paying for college.</p>
<p>Have you discussed with your parents what they can afford? An EFC that high implies decent income and/or assets…Do you have a school acceptance that they have indicated they can afford? Did you apply to state schools or schools that are not as expensive?</p>
<p>If your EFC is over $30,000 a year, either your family income is near $100,000 a year, your family has large assets, you have significant assets in your name, or your family owns something like a second home or other real estate that were on the FAFSA.</p>
<p>Most important…is what your family says they CAN contribute to your college education per year. The EFC is only important for dispersal of federally funded need based aid (and you would not qualify for that at all with an EFC of $30k). </p>
<p>Is your family able to help you with the costs of an instate public university in your home state? The SUNY system has a large number of schools.</p>
<p>Yes, my household income is slightly over $100,000, but it must be taken into account that I live in NY. My parents are not rich. They both work and have average salaries, but when you put them together it comes to that much. The cost of living is very expensive in NY and my parents pay a lot of money for rent and a significant portion of their income goes to taxes…there’s not much left over, and we really don’t lead an extravagant lifestyle.</p>
<p>I do have two schools that I have a full ride to, which I am extremely grateful for…but I really don’t want to go to those schools. I’ve gotten in to many schools that I really want, but all of them are giving me aid based on the EFC of $30,000.</p>
<p>I know that a lot of people might think that I sound entitled…but if I do, its because other people, who I worked just as hard as, if not more, are able to go to these schools either because A) their household income is so low that they get a full ride or B) they have enough money to afford it. Again, sorry if I sound entitled, but its just really disheartening to work so hard, even get into the schools you wanted to, and then have to turn them down because of money.</p>
<p>You are fortunate to have some options that are affordable for you…with your good financial aid at those schools. Some students don’t have THAT option. Yes, NY is expensive, but so is CT, most of CA, and many other places. Even in NY, your family income of $100K is not viewed as “low income”. </p>
<p>I know you are disappointed that you can’t go to an expensive school that didn’t give you enough money. BUT you have two very good offers if finances are a significant consideration. Try to look at the cup as being half full…instead of half empty.</p>
<p>^^It’s a really tough life lesson and I’m sorry that it is eating at you. I’m glad to hear that you do have a college or university to attend this fall…the true tragedy would be if you did not.</p>
<p>I know I’m very lucky and I’m really grateful for what I have. But try to see it from my point of view…I’ve been looking forward to going to these places for a while now. I realize that it is a life lesson, but, again, not to sound like a whiny brat, its not fair! There are so many people that don’t have to worry about money at all! Sorry, just had to get that rant off my chest. Its just really upsetting. </p>
<p>I know that $100,000 is by no means an average income in NY, but its certainly not a wealthy one, either.</p>
<p>It’s okay to be disappointed, but don’t dwell on it…you’re in the large middle class that doesn’t qualify for low income grants and can’t afford full price. Btw, most low income kids do not go to school for free and have very limited options as their families can’t afford to go into debt to help them either. It’s unfortunate that you didn’t target true financial safeties (ie. schools you can afford or that will give significant merit aid that you would be happy to attend). Is it possible for you to consider going to one of the full ride schools for a few years and then transfer to a school you’d like better? With a few years to save and no student loans, it might be possible for you to graduate with a degree from one of those schools.</p>
<p>The FAFSA does not take housing into account, otherwise it’d be non-standardized/much longer. I had an aid officer once basically say they couldn’t take that to account, because so many students families were living in houses they couldn’t afford and some just lived in worse areas/etc. </p>
<p>Most of these people DO wonder why your family hasn’t moved into a suburb/cheap area or whatever. I asked about it.</p>
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<p>Even the rich worry about money. The poor worry about it more than you’ve ever had to. Sorry, but 100k is a lot no matter where you are. You’re upper-middle class, and it’s not fair. Fair would be your family making about 35k. Fair would not look like 100k. Life’s unfairness has put a roof over your head, and food on your table.</p>
<p>sk8rmom, I didn’t mean to imply that all low income kids get a free ride - just that my friends who are low income and getting into the same schools that I’m getting into ARE getting a full ride and thus are able to attend. While I’m happy for everyone, I admit that I feel a little sad that all these people I know are getting what I’m unable to have, when we both worked just as hard.</p>
<p>But you’re right, there’s nothing I can do about it at this point. I should be happy for what I have and I’m going to try to focus on the positives of my safety school. Its not that I don’t like the school, just that the other ones I got into are much better fits…but enough of that for now.</p>
<p>Thanks for putting up with me. This was just all very sudden and I have to get used to it.</p>
<p>I hear your disappointment and frustration. I do not think you sound like a whiny brat at all. When kids are growing up it is very difficult for them to imagine that people have different financial circumstances than they do. The college application process is a rude awakening to them (and sometimes to us parents, as well!).
I think that part of the problem is the lack of communication that goes on in families around financing college. Did you and your parents discuss the amount that they could afford before you applied to the schools? If not, that makes it all the harder to come to the realization that your options are limited now. It’s as if a carrot was dangled in front of you and then pulled away just as you reached it. it is not fair, you are right.
Having said that, part of growing up involves dealing with these disappointments. Look at all of your options carefully. The option of going to one of your full ride safeties for a year or two and transferring is worth consideration. Who know, maybe you will love it there and want to stay!<br>
I know it is hard to hear this now but at my age I have reached a point that I realize these kinds of setbacks and letdowns are how we get where we are really meant to go. It really will be okay.</p>
<p>I DO feel for you. I understand that you want to go to these other schools, and it does s**k that your friends whose parents earn less can go & you cannot due to finances. Yup, life’s not fair. Knowing that is one thing, but having to live it is another. It’s okay to vent, and it’s okay to feel sorry for yourself. Don’t do it for too long, though. Soon you will need to put it behind you & learn to love your affordable options. Work hard in college & take advantage of all you are offered … there is always grad school!</p>
<p>*
I do have two schools that I have a full ride to, which I am extremely grateful for…but I really don’t want to go to those schools. I’ve gotten in to many schools that I really want, but all of them are giving me aid based on the EFC of $30,000.</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>Unfortunately, many kids don’t find out an estimate of the EFC until it’s too late.</p>
<p>However…thankfully, you have 2 full rides…What schools are these? </p>
<p>Don’t take out loans if you can go to these schools for free.</p>
<p>What is your likely major? likely career? Med school? (If that is in your future…definitely take one of the free rides!!!)</p>
<p>Edited to add…I see you got one full-ride to Stony Brook (entry into WISE program). This full ride includes room and board…great! What is the other school and what it that scholarship?</p>
<p>Yurtle, I’m sorry, but you’re just out of line.</p>
<p>My parents work like crazy to make that 100k. They work seven days a week. Much of their money goes to taxes. So please don’t imply that I fell into the lap of luxury. I’m NOT a member of the upper middle class. I live in an apartment with roaches (gross, I know, but I had to make this point). </p>
<p>Growing up, we didn’t have much money at all. I’ve been in that 35k stage, so I’m not some spoiled princess. I remember when it was a considerable expense to buy a Cinderella videotape. All my life I’ve grown up with people wealthier than me and seen my friends buy nicer toys, nicer clothes, nicer gadgets. And I haven’t complained once. I’m happy with what I have.</p>
<p>I don’t need you to make me feel bad about complaining. Everyone complains once in a while. I am grateful for what I have - and I’ve stated it multiple times. </p>
<p>And no matter what you say, I DO think its unfair that I can’t go to college because of money. I’ve worked very hard to get here and I do think its unfair that person A doesn’t have to worry about the financial aspect at all. I don’t think that anything should be taken anything away from them - I just wish that I could have that, too.</p>
<p>I haven’t made any ridiculous generalizations. I know that there are things in the world that are much more unfair than this. I’ve had seven people die in my family in the past two years. I know what real grief is. I really don’t appreciate your condensation. </p>
<p>I’m upset about my situation - which I think is completely okay and reasonable - but I’m trying to accept it. </p>
<p>There was really no reason for you to act holier-than-thou.</p>
<p>Hey lonesplendor, I sympathize and totally understand how you feel. Our family was in a similar situation several years ago and it still stings. To make a long story short, we scrimped and saved. My son worked his butt off and was an excellent applicant in every way. He got into the school he wanted but could not attend because our EFC was so ridiculously high that we couldn’t live and pay that amount. Now here’s the good part of the story. He went to a different college that we could cover with loans and savings. He loved it and made his mark at that university as a top student with many accomplishments. He had nice grad school opportunities that stemed from his great undergrad record. And best of all, we aren’t all going to owe such an obscene amout of money. It all worked out. And it probably will all work out for you too - just give it a chance. ;)</p>
<p>But my point is the more broad- You could be starving, homeless, or broke. Luckily, life’s unfairness allowed you to live in an apartment, and have food. Things could be much worse for you- you say you realize this. </p>
<p>It’s the old “Eat your food, there are starving children in _____.” </p>
<p>It IS unfair. Welcome to capitalism. Almost no one doesn’t worry about college finances. The amount of students whose families make 300,000+ is not that high, and you can almost certainly bet that anyone below that level will worry about financing college. </p>
<p>We agree! It’s unfair. But there are students much worse off than you, who can probably go to a cheap state school, or community college for two years, just like everyone else. </p>
<p>I’m not questioning your grief, and I’m not saying you’re a princess. I’m saying you have it pretty good at the moment, considering you can still probably end up somewhere- many of us have trouble getting that far.</p>
<p>Well, no, everyone’s parents don’t work like crazy - many do, but many don’t.</p>
<p>And again, I agree with you - I could have it 10x worse! I’ve even stated that I’m grateful for what I have.</p>
<p>I’ve SEEN children starving, I’ve SEEN lepers, I’ve SEEN slums - I know that I could be wayy worse off and I am so, so, so lucky to have what I do. </p>
<p>But its not reasonable to expect people to NEVER complain. I’m sure you have complained, too - especially when you were an 18 year old with lots of dreams.</p>
<p>“just that my friends who are low income and getting into the same schools that I’m getting into ARE getting a full ride and thus are able to attend.” </p>
<p>might be the hardest part. I’m guessing most of us don’t know ANYONE like that. Probably makes it easier to take.</p>
<p>How are the better off kids you grew up with ( “All my life I’ve grown up with people wealthier than me and seen my friends buy nicer toys, nicer clothes, nicer gadgets. …”) making out? Hanging with THEM might make it seem fairer.</p>
<p>I recommend that you go to any college that you can afford and eventually provide a better college education for your children than your parents did for you. Clearly the government is not interested in providing a college education for every student at any college they choose. Feel free to change that for your children if it is important to you.</p>